Amber Alert canceled after third day of search for missing baby

IMPD, IFD and the IMPD recruit class continued their search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson near the railroad tracks off of Harding Street and West Morris Street Friday, August 29, 2014, afternoon. Here the IMPD recruit class calls it a day and walk back to their vehicles. Matt Kryger / The Star

IMPD, IFD and the IMPD recruit class continued their search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson near the railroad tracks off of Harding Street and West Morris Street Friday, August 29, 2014, afternoon. Here the IMPD recruit class calls it a day and walk back to their vehicles. Matt Kryger / The Star

IMPD, IFD and the IMPD recruit class continued their search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson near the railroad tracks off of Harding Street and West Morris Street Friday, August 29, 2014, afternoon. Matt Kryger / The Star

IMPD, IFD and the IMPD recruit class continued their search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson near the railroad tracks off of Harding Street and West Morris Street Friday, August 29, 2014, afternoon. Here investigators watch the water as is was drained from a cistern located in a thick wooded area. Matt Kryger / The Star

IMPD, IFD and the IMPD recruit class continued their search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson near the railroad tracks off of Harding Street and West Morris Street Friday, August 29, 2014, afternoon. Here cars driving on Harding Street were stopped and questioned before being allowed to pass through the area. Matt Kryger / The Star

Friday August 29th, 2014, IMPD investigators and search teams, leave the search grid to remove vests, before continuing to search the area along the river and rail road tracks, at Oliver Ave. & Harding Street. Michelle Pemberton/The Star

Friday August 29th, 2014, IMPD investigators and search teams, leave the search grid to remove vests, before continuing to search the area along the river and rail road tracks, at Oliver Ave. & Harding Street. Michelle Pemberton/The Star

Friday August 29th, 2014, IMPD investigators and search teams, leave the search grid to remove vests, before continuing to search the area along the river and rail road tracks, at Oliver Ave. & Harding Street. Michelle Pemberton/The Star

Friday August 29th, 2014, IMPD investigators and search teams, leave the search grid to remove vests, before continuing to search the area along the river and rail road tracks, at Oliver Ave. & Harding Street. Michelle Pemberton/The Star

Friday August 29th, 2014, IMPD investigators and search teams, return to the search grid after removing vests, before continuing to search the area along the river and rail road tracks, at Oliver Ave. & Harding Street. Michelle Pemberton/The Star

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One-month-old Delano Wilson, was last seen about noon Wednesday in the 1400 block of Henry Street. He is believed to have been abducted by a white man and a Hispanic woman, both 25 to 30 years old.(Photo: Provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.)

Police officers and recruits, firefighters and volunteer search dog handlers fanned out Friday in the Westside neighborhood where a 6-week-old boy was reported missing earlier this week, but they found no sign of the baby.

And at 6 p.m., Indiana State Police canceled an Amber Alert that had been issued late Wednesday night for Delano Wilson. The alert was canceled at the request of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

"We want to pray for the safe return of the child," Bishop Horatio Luster said Friday. "We also want to pray for support for the family and the community itself. The community is being affected, too."

When the Amber Alert was first issued, it generated numerous calls and tips, but over six hours on Friday, only two calls came in, IMPD spokesman Sgt. Kendale Adams said in a release explaining the cancellation request. None of the tips have led them to Delano.

"Over the past three days, Missing Person detectives believe the Amber Alert message has reached its maximum audience," Adams said. "Detectives feel confident the continued use of the department's internal messaging, use of its social media links, (and) continued coverage by local media … is sufficient and yields the best opportunity to find Delano"

Taniasha Perkins and Willie Wilson, parents of 6-week-old Delano Wilson, show their anguish during a vigil Aug. 30, 2014 outside their home in the 500 block of Chase Street in Indianapolis. The vigil was conducted by Ten Point Coalition and Young Men Inc. Wilson reported to police that his son was taken from his arms about noon Aug. 27, 2014, in an alley on West Henry Street near the family's home. Charlie Nye/The Star

Boys from Young Men Inc. look at a flier with the picture and Amber Alert information about missing 6-week-old Delano Wilson during a vigil Aug. 30, 2014, outside the home of the boy's parents, Taniasha Perkins and Willie Wilson, in Indianapolis. Charlie Nye/The Star

Taniasha Perkins (center) and Willie Wilson (second from right) are comforted as the Rev. Malachi Walker, (left) pleads for the return of the couple's missing 6-week-old son, Delano Wilson, during a vigil Aug. 30, 2014, outside the boy's parents' home in the 500 block of Chase Street in Indianapolis. Charlie Nye/The Star

Taniasha Perkins (center) and Willie Wilson (second from right) are comforted as the Rev. Malachi Walker (left) pleads for the return of the couple's missing 6-week-old son, Delano Wilson, during a vigil Aug. 30, 2014, in the 500 block of Chase Street in Indianapolis. With the parents are the Rev. Dawn Walker and Bishop Horatio Lester (far right). Charlie Nye/The Star

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By the end of Friday, searchers had combed about 90 percent of the neighborhood surrounding the baby's home in the 500 block of Chase Street, Adams said.

Delano's father, Willie Wilson, reported to police on Wednesday that a white man and a Hispanic woman pistol-whipped him into unconsciousness in an alley on West Henry Street near the family's home, snatched the baby and drove off in a clean-looking blue 2000-2003 four-door Ford Taurus.

Friday, searchers spread out through wooded areas and vacant lots, probed buildings, used sonar cameras to search the nearby White River and trudged along its banks, poking through debris. The search teams included homicide detectives, but there has been no evidence released that the baby is dead.

"There might be some nooks and crannies that we don't know about, but we pretty much searched at least 90 percent of the area," Adams said.

IMPD focused Friday on an area around the railroad tracks, near the Harding Street ramp to I-70. Later, searchers moved east of the tracks.

About 45 IMPD recruits in bright-green vests joined the search, and the FBI now is part of the investigation.

At one point, investigators lowered a "snake camera" down into an abandoned tank of some sort, but found no sign of the baby.

A mobile command unit was set up about 200 yards north of Oliver Street on a gravel access road that runs parallel to a railroad track. The search area is very overgrown, and trash, debris and weeds line the gravel access road.

Adams said there would not be that kind of search over the weekend. However, investigators met late Friday to go over what they knew so far and decide their next steps, which likely would include going back to talk to Delano's parents, Willie Wilson and Taniasha Perkins, to "fill in some gaps," he said.

Family question time it took to issue Amber Alert. Michelle Pemberton/The Star.

A half-block south of the center of the search area, Dan Segner was standing on Friday outside an auto repair shop building and storage lot he owns.

Segner said he was working there at the time the child was reported to have been kidnapped Wednesday around noon, but said he did not see a man or child. He said if anyone had come around the business, his watchdog would have alerted him.

However, Segner said he did see a woman, who he later realized was the child's mother, walking south on Chase Street, which is one block east of Harding, just before 1 p.m. The family's home is on Chase.

Segner said she walked to the corner of Oliver and Chase, but he never saw her return. She did not appear to be walking casually, he said, but instead was pacing at the intersection, "like she was looking for someone."

He was interviewed by police, Segner said, and he told them what he had observed. Specifically, he said they asked whether he had seen a man and baby.

"I told them no," he said.

Also Friday, a cousin of Perkins posted a message on Facebook saying he is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the child's return.

"Anyone in Indianapolis can help out my cousin in her time of need," said the message posted on the Facebook page of a man identified as Marlon Perkins.

"This is real, and she needs all the help and assistance possible in the safe return of her son," the message read. "I'm personally offering $10,000 for any information that leads to his safe return. Contact IMPD immediately with any information!!!!"

Indiana State Police canceled the Amber Alert for Delano Wilson as of 6 p.m. today.

"This cancellation was requested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department," the State Police notification said.

The Amber Alert was issued about 9 p.m. Wednesday, about nine hours after 6-week-old Delano was reported abducted. Normally, Amber Alerts expire after five hours, but can be extended.

4:15 PM UPDATE

The search of an underground storage tank yielded no information about a missing 6-week-old boy, and searchers have finished work for the day and are gathering to go over where the case stands.

IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams said a weekend grid search like Friday's is unlikely. He estimated about 90 percent of the neighborhood where the baby was reported missing — including buildings, wooded areas, waterways and nooks and crannies — have been searched.

Delano Wilson was reported abducted around noon Wednesday.

3:29 PM UPDATE

Police recruits enlisted to help in the ongoing search for 6-week-old Delano Wilson have disbanded for the day, but police were preparing to drain an underground storage tank that had been found in the search area.

IMPD Sgt. Kendale Adams told the Associated Press that officers had found the spot during their search on Friday. He said police intend to use a snake camera to search the tank once it's partially drained.

12:19 AM UPDATE

Dozens of police recruits backed up by search dogs probed a wooded area on the Westside today for a missing 6-week-old baby.

By noon, there was still no sign of Delano Wilson, who has been missing since Wednesday, when his father said armed robbers grabbed the baby. In a Facebook post, a relative offered a $10,000 reward.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department focused on an area around the railroad tracks, near the Harding Street ramp to I-70. Later, searchers moved east of the tracks.

About 45 IMPD recruits in bright green vests joined the search.

IMPD spokesman Sgt. Kendale Adams said the search of woods was based on their proximity to the reported crime scene, not a specific tip.

Adams said finding the baby remains the No. 1 priority and mission, which is still in a search-and-rescue phase, rather than recovery.

"Right now, we are just hopeful we will find the baby," he said.

The FBI is assisting along with the Midwest K9 group, which has multiple search dogs on scene.

Police also are canvassing the neighborhood where the family lives.

A mobile command unit is set up about 200 yards north of Oliver Street on a gravel access road that parallels the railroad track. The search area is very overgrown. Trash, debris and weeds line the gravel access road.

Police are expected to continue the search for the rest of the day.

A cousin of the missing baby's mother posted a message on Facebook saying he is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the child's return.

"Anyone in Indianapolis can help out my cousin in her time of need," said the message posted on the Facebook page of a man identified as Marlon Perkins. "This is real, and she needs all the help and assistance possible in the safe return of her son. I'm personally offering $10,000 for any information that leads to his safe return. Contact IMPD immediately with any information!!!!"

While searchers combed the woods, a dozen or more fanned out through the neighborhood two blocks to the northeast where the missing child's family lives. Some officers were going door-to-door, while other manned roadblocks. At those checkpoints, police asked drivers if they had been in the neighborhood previously and if they had any information that could help in the search for the child. They took down license plate numbers, names and birth dates of the people they interviewed.

A relative outside the family's home said the child's mother and father were out putting up posters seeking information in the child's disappearance. She declined to comment.

A half-block south, Dan Segner was standing outside an auto repair shop building and storage lot that he owns. Segner said he was working there at the time the child was reported to have been kidnapped Wednesday, but said he did not see the man or child. He said if anyone had come around the business, his watchdog would have alerted him.

Segner said he did see a woman, who he later realized was the child's mother, walking south on Chase Street, which is one block east of Harding, a little before 1 p.m. The family's home is on Chase.

He said she walked to the corner of Oliver and Chase, but he never saw her return. She did not appear to be walking casually, he said. She was pacing at the intersection, "like she was looking for someone."

Segner said he was interviewed by police and told them what he had observed. Specifically, he said they asked if he had seen a man and baby.

"I told them no," he said.

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Efforts to find 6-week-old Delano Wilson concentrated locally and spread nationally, as fears, frustrations and questions about what happened to the Indianapolis baby grew in number and intensity.

Human and dog searchers fanned out late Wednesday and Thursday on the streets and blocks around the baby's home on the Near Westside. The FBI was called in to help, Delano's photo appeared on at least two national missing children's websites, and his mother made a tearful plea for the baby's return.

As the search stretched into a third day, family members questioned the nine-hour delay between the first report of the baby's abduction and the issuance of a statewide Amber Alert. An advocate for missing children, however, said police likely had legitimate reasons to probe the initial report and not immediately call for an Amber Alert.

"Please bring my baby," Taniasha Perkins, 22, said as she sobbed Thursday morning. "He is my one and only son, my firstborn."

Perkins, standing with relatives near her home in the 500 block of Chase Street, said she has struggled to comprehend why anyone would take Delano.

"Why can't you just drop him off somewhere safe," she asked, "so I can see him healthy again?"

The FBI is taking part because the case involves the kidnapping of a young child, said Sgt. Kendale Adams, a spokesman for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Any kidnapping can be a federal offense, but the FBI doesn't investigate every case. However, when victims are younger than 12, the bureau is more likely to get involved, according to the FBI's website.

An Amber Alert was issued about 9 p.m. Wednesday by the state consortium that vets requests from local law enforcement agencies. Right after the baby was reported missing, Adams said, IMPD focused local resources on the case to gather essential information and to put out a bulletin to all of its officers. Those efforts included establishing a grid pattern around the abduction site and employing the use of a helicopter and search dogs, as well as officers and others, to search for the boy.

At some point, the department sought a statewide Amber Alert. Indiana State Police Capt. David Bursten said there's no average time between the report of a child missing and the activation of an Amber Alert, because each case is different.

Amber Alerts also are rare: In the past 10 years, they have been issued in Indiana only 37 times.

Four of those alerts related to children who went missing in Indianapolis; Delano's disappearance triggered the most recent.

Amber Alerts must meet certain criteria, such as a belief that a child younger than 18 was abducted and was in imminent danger, as well as inclusion of a detailed description of specific suspects and cars involved.

In all cases, time is critical, and investigators generally say the first few hours after a child goes missing are the most critical to finding the youngster alive and safe.

Gaetane Borders, president of the Atlanta-based organization Peas in Their Pods, said a nine-hour lag to an Amber Alert is unusual. However, Borders said, in this case, it might be understandable.

Peas in Their Pods assists families of missing children, with a particular focus on children of color.

According to the Amber Alert, Delano was kidnapped by a white man and a Hispanic woman, both in their mid- to late-20s.

A recording of the 911 call related to the Aug. 27 issued Amber Alert

It's uncommon, Borders said, for African-American infants to be snatched by Caucasians and Hispanics. It's possible, but doesn't fit with more typical scenarios and likely would give police pause, Borders said.

In addition, Delano's father, Willie Wilson, who reported that his son was taken from him after he was robbed and pistol-whipped, also was involved in a child-neglect case in Ohio in 2012.

In that case, said Adams of the IMPD, a daughter Wilson had with a different woman was shaken and suffered severe brain damage, but survived. The mother was convicted of child neglect and remains in prison; Wilson was not arrested, but was present.

Borders said police obviously must take into account and pursue information like that, likely leading to a delay in issuance of the Amber Alert in Delano's disappearance.

Wilson also was briefly arrested after reporting the abduction on an allegation of marijuana possession. However, police consider the drug arrest unrelated to the missing-child case, Adams said, and Wilson was released from police custody about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to online court records.

The family's grief, however, transcends any questions about Delano's disappearance.

"We work really hard to provide for our child," Taniasha Perkins said. "For you to take him away is just tearing a hole in my family and in my heart."

Here's the Amber Alert information:

Delano has black hair and brown eyes, is about 16 inches long and weighs about 12 pounds. He was last seen about noon Wednesday in the 1400 block of Henry Street, near South Harding Street. He was wearing a dark blue, one-piece outfit.

His father described two suspects: a white man, 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with brown hair and wearing a black "do-rag," red T-shirt, blue jeans and red, black and blue tennis shoes; and a Hispanic woman, also 25 to 30, thin with long brown hair and wearing a green shirt and matching green hoop earrings.

According to the alert, which was broadcast over police radio frequencies, the suspects were last seen driving an older model but clean-looking blue 2000-2003 four-door Ford Taurus.